HL Deb 06 June 1962 vol 241 cc600-1

2.20 p.m.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES

My Lords, as those of your Lord ships Who are concerned with Private Bills know, it is my practice to hold an unofficial meeting each Session in January to assist me in deciding to which Private Bills I should direct the attention of the House, under Standing Order 91, as containing provisions of special interest, and to any special circumstances relative to the Bill. It was agreed at the meeting this year that I should make such a statement with regard to this Bill.

The following are the circumstances. In 1903 a company known as First Garden City, Limited, was formed to develop and manage Letchworth for the benefit of the town and its inhabitants. The company was originally non-profit-making and, as set out in its Memorandum of Association, it was intended to promote and further the distribution of industrial population upon the lines suggested in Sir Ebenezer Howard's book Garden Cities of Tomorrow. In December, 1960, control of the company passed to a company known as Hotel York, Limited, and although in the offer to shareholders it was stated that the company would ensure the future of Letch-worth as a unified estate in accordance with the principles upon which the town had been developed since its foundation, the Promoters, the Letchworth Urban District Council, claim that such an acquisition will be prejudicial to the fulfilment of the earlier intentions of the company and to the interests of the town and of its inhabitants.

The Bill is promoted for the purpose of establishing a corporation which, in return for appropriate compensation, would acquire the undertaking of First Garden City, Limited, and in its opinion safeguard the position in the future. The Bill was opposed in the House of Commons and was given a Second Reading there by 241 votes to 13; and, there being two Petitions against it, it was committed to a Select Committee of nine members. The Committee sat for six days, and the Bill was reported with Amendments. The Bill reached this House on May 31 when it received its First Reading and was referred to the Examiners. I anticipate that it will be petitioned against in this House also, in which case it will be referred to a Select Committee. As at present arranged, I intend to put the Bill down for Second Reading on Thursday, June 28.